It's almost here. The Zoning Commission will hear Stratton Development's rezoning request on Monday. We should have a large turnout from Brown Town, Fountain Manor and Newlyn at the meeting. (You're invited!)
Click here to reach the Zoning Commission's web site. It contains both the agenda and the staff's report. Interesting reading.
The steering committee for these three neighborhoods met Wednesday evening, considered the zoning conditions Stratton requested and agreed on several changes necessary for the neighborhoods to support the rezoning. Sadly, the committee could not see a way that the Commencement House could be saved on its site.
In a meeting this morning, Stratton agreed with most of the changes we requested. We could not agree on two important points.
First, the steering group believes the conditions should include the depictions of the buildings Stratton plans to build. In other words, the buildings eventually built on the site by Stratton or any other developer should look substantially like the buildings Stratton intends to build today.
Second, the steering group believes the buildings should not be higher than the Regions Bank on the corner of N. Elm and Cornwallis. That building is roughly 50 feet high.
Discussions on these two issues will likely continue through the weekend.
Regardless of the Zoning Commission's decision, City Council will also hear Stratton's request because the request requires a change in the Comprehensive Plan.
Please make time to attend on Monday evening.
More soon.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
DeveloperMeeting 9/24, 5:30 at Sherwood Clubhouse
Elm Cornwallis LLC is back in the person of John Stratton of Stratton Development.
Stratton will hold a meeting for the community from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Sherwood Tennis and Swim Club Clubhouse on Thursday, September 24. That's tomorrow night.
Stratton Development mailed notices of the meeting to a small subset of the neighborhood last Friday.
In spite of short notice to a relatively few neighbors, we should have a good turn out from the rest of the neighborhood for Stratton's presentation at 6:00.
He will make another presentation later if attendance warrants.
More to come.
Stratton will hold a meeting for the community from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Sherwood Tennis and Swim Club Clubhouse on Thursday, September 24. That's tomorrow night.
Stratton Development mailed notices of the meeting to a small subset of the neighborhood last Friday.
In spite of short notice to a relatively few neighbors, we should have a good turn out from the rest of the neighborhood for Stratton's presentation at 6:00.
He will make another presentation later if attendance warrants.
More to come.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Quiet Summer, for the most part
It has been a very quiet summer for our neighborhoods - at least regarding the four homes owned by Cornwallis-Elm LLC. There was a bit of activity in late July but there was apparently no follow-up.
108 W. Cornwallis 106 W. Cornwallis
2209 N. Elm
The homes on West Cornwallis and at 2209 N. Elm are occupied. The Commencement House continues to suffer from the lack of care shown by Cornwallis Elm LLC.
Commencement House Front and Side
Councilman Matheny recently made comments to City Council regarding lack of maintenance on homes in District Three. Could he have been thinking of the Commencement House?
So why has it been so quiet? Could it be that the pending election is influencing Cornwallis-Elm LLC's plans?
Maybe our next update to this blog will have news.
108 W. Cornwallis 106 W. Cornwallis
2209 N. Elm
The homes on West Cornwallis and at 2209 N. Elm are occupied. The Commencement House continues to suffer from the lack of care shown by Cornwallis Elm LLC.
Commencement House Front and Side
Councilman Matheny recently made comments to City Council regarding lack of maintenance on homes in District Three. Could he have been thinking of the Commencement House?
So why has it been so quiet? Could it be that the pending election is influencing Cornwallis-Elm LLC's plans?
Maybe our next update to this blog will have news.
Monday, March 9, 2009
No news except for time passing, paint peeling, trees falling...
Cornwallis Elm LLC remains quiet. Maybe they'll file a new request for the April Planning Commission meeting or maybe they won't.
In the meantime, here are a couple of recent photos of the homes most directly affected by their assault on our neighborhoods.
The Commencement House still needs help. In addition to the peeling paint above, limbs from last weekend's storm litter the front lawn.
The folks at 2209 North Elm are taking good care of that home. Glad they're in our neighborhood
This tree apparently found the storm a bit much and toppled onto the Regions Bank lot from the back of 106 West Cornwallis. Wonder if Regions is trying to get Cornwallis Elm LLC to clean it up.
106 West Cornwallis looks great. Glad these folks are in the neighborhood too.
In the meantime, here are a couple of recent photos of the homes most directly affected by their assault on our neighborhoods.
The Commencement House still needs help. In addition to the peeling paint above, limbs from last weekend's storm litter the front lawn.
The folks at 2209 North Elm are taking good care of that home. Glad they're in our neighborhood
This tree apparently found the storm a bit much and toppled onto the Regions Bank lot from the back of 106 West Cornwallis. Wonder if Regions is trying to get Cornwallis Elm LLC to clean it up.
106 West Cornwallis looks great. Glad these folks are in the neighborhood too.
108 W. Cornwallis looks pretty sad with leaves from last fall still in abundance and probably clogging gutters, peeling paint and still for rent.
In case you're wondering, 336 358 3239 rings at NAI Triad.
In case you're wondering, 336 358 3239 rings at NAI Triad.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Greg Young's Cornwallis Traffic Blog
Greg has written a good commentary on Cornwallis Traffic. I particularly like his comment on "pacing."
It's about two miles from Elm to Lawndale. Increasing your speed by five miles per hour saves about 30 seconds. Hardly worth the risk of not being able to stop for a car, pet, bicyclist, runner, pedestrian or child.
Greg and Holly have a good perch from which to comment at the corner of Elmwood and Cornwallis.
Thanks, Greg.
It's about two miles from Elm to Lawndale. Increasing your speed by five miles per hour saves about 30 seconds. Hardly worth the risk of not being able to stop for a car, pet, bicyclist, runner, pedestrian or child.
Greg and Holly have a good perch from which to comment at the corner of Elmwood and Cornwallis.
Thanks, Greg.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Cornwallis Elm LLC Withdraws...
It's official.
Mr. Isaacson withdrew Cornwallis Elm LLC's request for Conditional District-Limited Office zoning at today's Zoning Commission meeting.
If I understood him correctly, he said that the LLC had concluded the originally requested zoning did not allow the developers to carry out the type of residential development they wish to do.
Therefore, they withdrew that request and will put in a residential zoning request soon.
Stay tuned.
Mr. Isaacson withdrew Cornwallis Elm LLC's request for Conditional District-Limited Office zoning at today's Zoning Commission meeting.
If I understood him correctly, he said that the LLC had concluded the originally requested zoning did not allow the developers to carry out the type of residential development they wish to do.
Therefore, they withdrew that request and will put in a residential zoning request soon.
Stay tuned.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Shortest Distance...
While Allen Johnson's column in this morning's News & Record does not directly address the effort to protect Elm-Cornwallis neighborhoods, Johnson's comments reflect the difficulties neighborhoods face when assaulted by developers.
When the City Council debated whether Greensboro citizens deserved to have Protest Petition authority, Mr. Perkins made a statement to the effect that our housing stock was worn and little brick ranch houses were not good for our city. Now Johnson quotes Perkins as calling Protest Petition authority the "The Lawyer Relief Act of 2009." This from an industry well known for its use of lawyers to defeat and frustrate neighborhoods.
Mr. Perkins and his fellow travelers would do well to worry about representing all citizens, not just commercial interests.
By the way, the address listed with the Secretary of State for Cornwallis-Elm LLC (the entity that attempting to encroach on Brown Town) is the same as for Mr. Perkins' NAI Peidmont Triad - 101 West Friendly Ave, Ste. 601, Greensboro.
When the City Council debated whether Greensboro citizens deserved to have Protest Petition authority, Mr. Perkins made a statement to the effect that our housing stock was worn and little brick ranch houses were not good for our city. Now Johnson quotes Perkins as calling Protest Petition authority the "The Lawyer Relief Act of 2009." This from an industry well known for its use of lawyers to defeat and frustrate neighborhoods.
Mr. Perkins and his fellow travelers would do well to worry about representing all citizens, not just commercial interests.
By the way, the address listed with the Secretary of State for Cornwallis-Elm LLC (the entity that attempting to encroach on Brown Town) is the same as for Mr. Perkins' NAI Peidmont Triad - 101 West Friendly Ave, Ste. 601, Greensboro.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Thank You City Council and especially Goldie Wells
Congratulations and thanks to Keith Brown, Donna Newton, Willie Taylor, the League of Women Voters and SO many others.
Ed Cone's comments here provide a great summary.
Ed Cone's comments here provide a great summary.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Dry inside, thankfully...
Several weeks ago, a Cornwallis Elm LLC member (at least I think he's a member. How would you know?) told a neighbor that the Commencement House was "dry inside."
As Jane Levy and a small group of preservationists accompanied by Buddy Seymour saw yesterday, the house is dry. Here are Jane's words as she commented last night on this blog -
A small group of preservationists visited the interior of the Commencement House today. We found it to be in remarkably good shape considering the use and abuse it has received over time. Moving the house would pose several severe difficulties, but we are trying to find a way to save it. We will delve deeper and look for possible solutions in the next few weeks. As the NY Times said today about the possible demise of the Rainbow Room, “We hope it finds a way to survive.”
We all appreciate Mr. Seymour's agreeing to open the house for this short inspection.
Of course, we would appreciate the prompt filing of a new residential plan and an innovative solution for the Commencement House even more.
How about four homes on four home sites with the Commencement House in tact and enjoyed by generations of owners to come?
As Jane Levy and a small group of preservationists accompanied by Buddy Seymour saw yesterday, the house is dry. Here are Jane's words as she commented last night on this blog -
A small group of preservationists visited the interior of the Commencement House today. We found it to be in remarkably good shape considering the use and abuse it has received over time. Moving the house would pose several severe difficulties, but we are trying to find a way to save it. We will delve deeper and look for possible solutions in the next few weeks. As the NY Times said today about the possible demise of the Rainbow Room, “We hope it finds a way to survive.”
We all appreciate Mr. Seymour's agreeing to open the house for this short inspection.
Of course, we would appreciate the prompt filing of a new residential plan and an innovative solution for the Commencement House even more.
How about four homes on four home sites with the Commencement House in tact and enjoyed by generations of owners to come?
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The sun seems a little brighter today. Cornwallis Elm LLC is going to ask the Zoning Commission for a second continuance rather than propose a massive medical office building in our neighborhood.
Henry Isaacson (their guy) asked Don Vaughan (our guy) if the neighbors would accept a continuance providing Cornwallis Elm LLC used the additional time to propose a residential community of "high end town homes."
Neighbors are reacting with joy darkened by the cold realism brought on by Cornwallis Elm LLC's past behavior and their insistence that the Commencement House be moved or destroyed.
Having bought the four homes in 2005 and 2006 apparently on speculation they could build two more banks (!), they have exercised poor stewardship over their properties. (See earlier posts of Commencement House photos.)
They held an ill-advertised, ill-run meeting on December 1st to tell neighbors they wanted to build a parking deck and two two-story buildings.
They asked for a continuance at the December Zoning Commission meeting and said they would meet with neighbors. To my knowledge they have not met with neighbors or asked to do so. (Did someone hurt their feelings at that December 1st meeting?)
Now they have apparently have a new proposal - one that should be more acceptable but at the cost of a architectural and historic treasure.
Bet the neighborhoods won't trust Cornwallis Elm LLC until they've much more than words to consider.
Henry Isaacson (their guy) asked Don Vaughan (our guy) if the neighbors would accept a continuance providing Cornwallis Elm LLC used the additional time to propose a residential community of "high end town homes."
Neighbors are reacting with joy darkened by the cold realism brought on by Cornwallis Elm LLC's past behavior and their insistence that the Commencement House be moved or destroyed.
Having bought the four homes in 2005 and 2006 apparently on speculation they could build two more banks (!), they have exercised poor stewardship over their properties. (See earlier posts of Commencement House photos.)
They held an ill-advertised, ill-run meeting on December 1st to tell neighbors they wanted to build a parking deck and two two-story buildings.
They asked for a continuance at the December Zoning Commission meeting and said they would meet with neighbors. To my knowledge they have not met with neighbors or asked to do so. (Did someone hurt their feelings at that December 1st meeting?)
Now they have apparently have a new proposal - one that should be more acceptable but at the cost of a architectural and historic treasure.
Bet the neighborhoods won't trust Cornwallis Elm LLC until they've much more than words to consider.
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